Window structure



Aug. 4,;1-936. c. I. A UTEN 2,050,033

v I WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1936. c. I. AUTEN WINDOW STRUCTURE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April -23, 1931 Aug. 4, 1936: c. I. AUTEN WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 23, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Clazzdeliflutem Aug. 4, 1936. c. AUTEN WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 2 3, 1951 FL29%0 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jzztem,

Aug. 4, 1936. c. I. AUTEN 7 2,050,033

' WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 23, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Glzuulejiduiem,

Aug. 4, 1936;" c. AUTEN WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 25, 1931 7 Sheds-Sheet 6 r Fig.3

Aug. 4,1936. c. 1. AUTEN 2,050,033

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 23, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW STRUCTURE Application April 23, 1931, Serial No. 532,373

36 Claims.

My invention relates to a combined window frame and heater holding unit.

Radiators for the heating of interiors of buildings are usually, and generally, regardless of type, set upon floors, adjacent to walls, or suspended adjacent to such walls but near the floor. Such occupancy of floor space has become increasingly objectionable with the increasing cost of provision of floor space with more expensive types of building construction. To save floor space, radiation has been suspended at heights above the heights normally required for the use of floor space. But this is objectionable on account of the desirability of the initial diffusion of heat to lower and colder portions of rooms.

Such exposed radiation moreover is objectionable in appearance and presents difliculties in cleaning under and around same.

Radiation used as above stated is well known in the radiation art to be inefiicient in that conductance that is developed substantially wholly through air currents induced directly by the radiated heat but partially develops the efliciency of the radiator and tends to carry a greater portion of the heatdirectly upward away from the desired locality of application.

Means of various kinds have been employed to reduce above mentioned objections in varying degrees. Various forms of deflectors have been placed above the radiation, with or without enclosure around the ends and sides adjacent to the wall, for the purpose of concentrating heat behind the radiation, increasing the speed of rising air currents and deflecting them more laterally into rooms; in some cases fully enclosing the radiator and providing openings in the room side of the enclosure. More recently blowers are being employed in connection with the enclosure of radiators to increase the rapidity of flow of air currents within and from such enclosures and thereby adding to the efiiciency of radiators. Such devices. while increasing the efficiency of radiators, do not remove the objections to the occupancy of otherwise usable floor space and irregularity in the boundaries of usable floor area. To compensate in part for the consumption of floor space, such enclosures have been in such form as to provide capacity for seating or as shelving or tables for the support of articles outside the otherwise fioor area.

It has been recognized as desirable, to the extent possible, to place radiation, and. blowers if used, within recesses constructed within the walls themselves; but in few instances of present day construction are the walls of such thickness and partly reducing the protrusion of the radiation upon the otherwise floor space and such wallrecessing necessarily involves extra labor and 1ex-' pense in construction. It is recognized as desirable that radiation is preferably placed beneath windows to have effect where there is greater chill from the outside air. The wall beneath the base of a window and to a corresponding height adjacent thereto mustbe initially constructed to provide such recess. Then the window must be placed and the wall built up around it or the wall accurately constructed to receive the window, with means provided in the wall for retaining the window in place. Only after such progress in the work can the radiation be installed partly within the recess, after which the artisans must return to complete the wall with respect to the recess. Such method prevents the installation of the radiation in continuous construction and the use of the radiation in warming the interior as often required during the course of construction.

In modern building construction, there is now well recognized the desirability of the fabrication of materials to the farthest point practicable in the shop so as to reduce the labor directly required in construction on the job.

My invention in part. consists of utilizing the special availability of metallic construction to complete in the factory ready for installation on the job a unit combining the metal frame for the 40 window, with whatever type of sash may be desired, a metallic base to serve in itself as the section of the wall beneath the window, of sufficient strength within the limitations of thickness involved as a part of the wall structure for the support of any facing required, and a recess for the radiation, which may be set in place as a unit upon the foundation orwall to the level of the floor, with proper means for attachment during construction of the wall around such means for attachment so as to permit the wall to be continuously built around it and the radiation installed at the time of setting or at such subsequent time as may be desired withoutthe return of any artisans concerned with the construction or finishing of the wall. It will, of course, be understood, that parts of my unit may be fabricated and shipped separately and assembled on the job before setting the unit in place. On account of its strength, metal of any considerable thickness will furnish the necessary strength. Insulation approximately equivalent to that of a nine inch brick wall, but itself approximately only one inch thick may be provided adjacent to the inner side of the outer portion of the part below the window sill. By the use of metal, means of attachment for any desired outside architectural facing may be readily and cheaply provided; all necessary vents for the access or egress of air may be permanently provided without substantial loss of strength or displeasing appearance; means for the rigid, permanent and removable support of the radiation, the means of heat supply, and any blowing or deflecting apparatus can be economically provided; and means of access to the inner portion of the recess through special apertures or by removal of the inner facing or open work parts thereof may be economically provided.

Another feature of my invention is in the provision of openings which may be readily provided for in metallic construction, between the radiation-containing portion of my unit and the hollow frame work of the jambs and lintels, with openings in the latter into the room to provide circulation, so that heat developed in the radiation recess will pass up through the hollow jambs and cause the same to provide radiating surface instead of being conductors of outside cold as in case of ordinary metallic window framing, and to a certain extent similarly warming the connected portion of the metallic sash and the glass adjacent thereto. If the sash employed is of the sliding type in which flanges from the stiles of the sash enter and slide in slots in the frame, the warmed air within the frame will resist the entry of outer air alongside and around the flange and thereby into the room.

Where the thickness of the wall and the depth of the recess required for the installation of the radiation is such that my unit cannot be provided of such depth in the recess portion as to come wholly within the thickness of the wall, the inner face of the radiation recess may be extended beyond the wall, occupying a relatively small portion of the floor space, without departing from my invention.

By reason of the exactitude possible in metallic construction and the strength of small sections of materials, it is convenient in a unit of my invention to more readily provide desired means for automatic or manual control of the flow of radiation; to provide means for the ready attachment of architectural trim within the wall; and a convenient and dependable means of location and support within a smaller area. Sills may be permanently fixed, hinged, removable, or perforated as desired. Other incidental advantages of my construction will appear in the following description of an embodiment thereof. It is understood that while I have shown a particular embodiment, the invention is not limited to such embodiment, but includes any other embodiment having substantially the same purposes and means.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby a pipe chase can be employed that will be housed within the wall structure and at the same time be of sufficient strength to prevent any material weakening of the wall.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in elevation of the inner side of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the external configuration the structure may take.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken generally on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views taken on the lines 55 and 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is an inside elevation of the base porton of the structure, with the inner casing cover removed.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of construction.

Figure 9 is an outer face view of the same.

Figure 10 is a view in elevation of the inner face plate.

Figure 11 is a detail View in elevation of a form of pipe chase that may be employed between two of the window structures.

Figure 12 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line I2--I2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of cover or top wall for the pipe chase.

In the embodiment disclosed, a main casing unit is provided comprising end walls II, a top wall I2 and a bottom wall I3. The upper portion of this casing provides a frame for a window as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5. J amb walls I4 are spaced from the casing walls II and are connected thereto by inner walls I5 and outer walls I6 providing boxes for the usual window weights. In the outer portion of these boxes are intermediate walls I! forming channels Ila, and said inner walls I4 have longitudinal slots I8 forming guideways. Sashes I9 are located in the window frame and have outstanding flanges 29 operating in said slots or guideways I8. This Window structure may be of the well-knownrtype, and it is believed needs no further exposition.

The sill of the window is shown at El, and extends across an intermediate portion of the casing. This sill may have an inner stool 22 including a depending shoulder 23, and may have a flange portion 24 that extends inwardly beyond the main body of the casing. The structure therefore from the sill to the top may be that of the well-known type of metallic window, and can be varied in numerous ways.

The portion of the casing between the sill 2I24 and the bottom I3 of the casing provides a chamber 25 for the heating apparatus. this purpose there may be provided upstanding walls 26 rising from the inner and outer edges of the bottom I3 and carrying a supporting frame shown at 21 on which is a radiator 28. Behind this radiator or toward the outer side of the structure is a vertical wall 29 that is preferably of heat insulating material, its upper margin being fitted into a receiving channel bar 30 secured to the under side of the sill 2 I. The chamber 25 on its inner side has a suitable removable wall 3| provided with lower and upper ventilating apertures 32 and 33, respectively, designed to permit air to enter the lower portion of the chamber, pass upwardly along the heater 28, and escape through the upper vents 34. It will be obvious that the design and character of this inner wall 3I may be varied as desired. The top of the chamber 25 moreover, as best shown in Figure 4, is in communication with the channels Ila, permitting the heated air to rise into said channels from which it escapes through the guide slots I B. The heated air, as also indicated in Figure 4, may pass upwardly in the chambers formed by the walls III4, I5 and I6 and through the hollow lintel of the frame, the top wall being pro For vided with one or more apertures 34 that permits its escape. air that ordinarily is apt to find its way through the window frame of a metallic structure is blanketed by the'warm air and is thus kept out of the room while the warm air can circulate freely through the same. In effect therefore a heated air insulation is provided around the window. Furthermore in addition to the upper vents or orifices 34 and the above described means of es cape for the heated air, the shoulder 23 of the sill may have outlet openings 35. To provide a reenforcement for the structure there is preferably located within the chamber 25 vertical posts 36 connected by a cross bar 31.

The outer side of the unit and particularly that outside the insulating wall 29 may be treated in various ways. Thus as shown, a panel 38 of plate metal is provided that extends from the upper sill 2! of one frame down across the floor structure to the top of the frame below. This may be suitably ornamented in any desired way.

It will be evident that this structure may be built as a complete unit at the manufacturing plant, the plate or sheet metal being sufliciently heavy to carry any essential load, and in its fabricated form can be installed as the walls are built. It thereby provides not only a complete window structure, but a recess or chamber that houses the heating element. This element may take various forms. Thus in Figures 8, 9 and 10 the heater consists of a relatively small radiator 39 located within a conduit or housing 46 that is arranged within the chamber 25a, corresponding essentially to the chamber 25 heretofore described. This conduit leads from a blower 4| installed within the chamber 25a and said conduit terminates in a downturned delivery nozzle 42 located behind the outlet openings 33a. These openings 330. are in a removable inner wall 3Ia, and the outer wall is formed by an insulating board 29a, corresponding respectively to the parts 3| and 29 of the first described embodiment. In this form of structure it will be noted that the outer panel is shown at 38a and extends only to the bottom of the casing. The removable wall 3 la may carry suitable switches 43 for controlling the operation of the motor 4| and to govern its speed.

It is of course desirable that structures of this kind have no exposed supply pipes to the heaters, not only because of the appearance, but because if exposed they occupy that much space within the room, which is undesirable. In order to take care of this, plate or sheet metal casings are provided that may be installed with the window frame structures and occupy wall space. Thus in Figures 11, 12 and 13, such a structure is shown. In the present embodiment the chase is disclosed as being located between two of the window frames whose outer walls I l are there illustrated. These walls may have on their outer sides angle brackets 44. The outstanding flanges of the angle brackets support a top wall 45 that extends between the walls II and preferably has downturned flanges 46 along its inner and outer edges. A backing wall 41, secured to the outer flange 46, extends to the unfinished floor level, indicated at 48. This provides a casing in which the pipes for the heaters may be placed, as indicated at 49. To permit access to these pipes in case of necessity, a removable front wall is shown at 50 and may be a metallic lathing sheet secured along its lower edge to a bar 5|, and having its upper edge suitably bolted or otherwise secured With this structure therefore the cold to the flange 48. A plastering surface is thus provided andthe bar 5| may constitute a ground to which the finished floor may be laid, as indicated at 52. Over this wall may be placed a baseboard 53 of any suitable character. 5 Instead of the angle brackets 44, a top wall may be constructed as shown in Figure 13. The wall proper is here designated 54 and is provided at its ends with upstanding flanges 55 riveted, welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the side walls H. The front and rear flanges are shown at 56 and 51 and correspond to the flanges 46 of thelstructure shown in Figure 11.

It will be evident that each embodiment provides a complete unit, it being understood that 15' the metal employed is of sufliciently heavy gauge to carry any ordinary weight that may be necessary at the window openings. In this unit the ordinary provision for the sash (which may be of any desired type) is made and additionally 20 ample space is provided for housing completely a heating member and any apparatus desired to go therewith and that will insure the distribution of heat. More than that the assembly as already explained, provides for the circulation of heated 25 air in and around the window sash which more completely distributes the heated air into the room and prevents the ingress of cold air from the outside.

What I claim is:

1. In a metallic window structure, a window frame unit having a radiation recess and means on the outer face of the recess portion for the support of architectural facing, substantially as described.

2. In a metallic window structure, a window frame unit having a sill and a radiation recess beneath the sill, said recess having an outer wall below the outer portion of the sill and provided with insulation attached to the inner side of the outer wall, substantially as described.

3. A metallic window unit comprising a casing, a sill member across the casing above its lower end forming an upper window opening, and a lower chamber for the reception of a heater element, an outer wall for the chamber beneath the outer portion of the sill, and a removable inner wall extending from the inner portion of the sill member to the floor.

4. A metallic window unit comprising a casing, a sill member across the casing above its lower end forming an upper window opening and a lower chamber for the reception of a heater element, and jarnb boxes extending from the sill member to the top of the casing, said jamb boxes 55 having guide slots through their inner sides and having their lower ends in communication with p the chamber to permit the heated air from the chamber to pass upwardly thereinto, and a window sash having guides in the slots.

5. A metallic window unit comprising a casing, a sill member across the casing above its lower end forming an upper window opening and a lower chamber for the reception of a heater element, and an outer wall of insulating material 55 for the chamber between the outer portions of its bottom and the sill member.

6. A metallic window unit comprising a casing having side walls and a top wall, a sill member extending across an intermediate portion of the 7 casing between the side walls, forming an upper window frame and a lower heater containing chamber, jamb boxes on the inner sides of the side walls between the sill member and top wall, sashes for closing the opening in the frame above 75 the sill member, and an outer wall for the chamber located in a vertical plane that is outside the sashes.

'7. A metallic window unit comprising a casing having side walls and a top wall, a sill member extending across an intermediate portion of the casing between the side walls, forming an upper window frame and a lower heater containing chamber, jamb boxes on the inner sides of the side walls between the sill member and top wall, sashes for closing the opening in the frame above the sill member, an outer side wall of insulating material for the chamber, and a facing wall outside the insulating wall.

8. A metallic window unit comprising a casing having side walls and a top wall, a sill member extending across an intermediate portion of the casing between the side walls, forming an upper window frame and a lower heater containing chamber, jamb boxes on the inner sides of the side walls between the sill member and top wall, sashes for closing the opening in the frame above the sill member, an outer side wall of insulating material for the chamber and located beneath the outer portion of the sill, and a removable inner side wall for the chamber beneath the inner portion of the sill and having vent openings.

9, A metallic window unit comprising a casing having side walls and a top wall, a sill member extending across an intermediate portion of the casing between the side walls, forming an upper window frame and a lower heater containing chamber, jamb boxes on the inner sides of the side walls between the sill member and top wall, sashes for closing the opening in the frame above the sill member, an outer side wall for the chamber extending downwardly from the outer portion of the sill member, a heater support within the chamber, and a removable inner side wall for the chamber beneath the inner portion of the sill and having vent openings.

10. In a metallic window unit comprising a casing having side walls, a top wall and a floor wall, a sill member extending across the space between the side walls and forming a lower chamber, jamb boxes extending-upwardly from the sill member and having communication with the chamber, said boxes having slotted inner sides, sashes having guides in the slots, a heat insulating rear wall for the chamber, an outer panel wall extending downwardly from the sill outside the heat insulating wall, and a removable inner side wall covering the chamber.

11. In combination with a unit frame of metal comprising a window and a heating chamber below the window, of a pipe chase comprising a metallic casing for embedment in the structural wall and located alongside the unit.

12. In combination with a unit frame of metal comprising side walls, a sill member between the same, a window frame above the sill member, and a heater holding chamber below the sill member, of a pipe chase for embedment in the structural wall and comprising a top wall mounted on the outer side of the unit side wall, a rear wall engaged with the top wall, and a removable front Wall.

13. As an article of manufacture, a unit frame of metal for location in a building wall and comprising side walls, a sill extending across the side walls between their upper and lower ends and forming a window opening above the sills, sash holding jambs on the side walls above the still, and an outer wall extending between the side walls and downwardly from the outer portion of the sill providing a heater holding chamber beneath the sill.

14. As an article of manufacture, a unit frame of metal for location in a building wall and formed and assembled prior to its placement, said unit frame comprising side walls, a sill extending across the side walls between their upper and lower ends and forming a window opening above the sills, sash holding jambs on the side walls above the sill, and an outer wall extending between the side walls and downwardly from the outer portion of the sill providing a heater holding chamber beneath the sill, and a removable inner wall for said chamber located between the side walls and extending downwardly below the inner side of the sill.

15. In combination, vertically disposed window frames in spaced relation, spandrels bridging the spaces between said vertically separated window frames and means for supporting said spandrels by the sill and head portions of said window frames.

' 16. In combination, vertically disposed window frames in spaced relation, spandrels bridging the spaces between said vertically separated window frames, means for supporting said spandrels by the sill and head portions of said window frames, including members by which the spandrels are positively hooked in supported relation.

17. In combination, vertically separated window frames, the upper frame having a sill with a dependent lip and a spandrel engaged at its lower end with the head of the lower window frame and having its upper end engaged behind the dependent lip of the sill of the upper frame.

18. A window frame having a sill with a downturned lip and spaced in back of said lip, a downwardly extending abutment for engagement over a wall face to provide in front of such a wall face a space in back of the lip for a spandrel covering the face of the wall.

19. In combination with window frames mounted in spaced relation in a wall structure and a spandrel connecting said window frames and having a hooked engagement with one of said window frames.

20. In combination, window frames in spaced relation in a wall structure and a spandrel connecting the frames and supported by said frames entirely independently of the wall structure.

21. In combination, window frames in adjoining relation, cover plates connecting adjoining window frames and spandrels held by said cover plates.

22. In combination, window frames having hollow heads and dependent sills, filler pieces in said hollow heads and spandrels supported on the filled portions of the heads of the frames and held at the top by connection with the dependent sills of other frames.

23. In combination, window frames having dependent sill lips and flanges in back of said lips and spandrels disposed with their upper edges between said sill lips and flanges.

24. A metallic window unit comprising a casing, a sill member across the casing above its lower end comprising an outer sill and an inner stool, forming an upper window opening and a lower chamber for the reception of a heater element, said chamber extending beneath the inner stool and the outer sill, and jamb boxes extending from the sill member to the top of the casing, said jamb boxes having their lower ends in communication with the chamber to permit the 'ber for a radiator, and an outer wall for said chamber supported by the unit and constituting the closure for the window opening between the floor and the sill member.

26. In a building structure, a floor and a building wall having a window opening with its lower end substantially at the floor in combination with a metallic window unit located in said opening and including side walls, a sill member extending across the space between the side walls and comprising an outer sill and an inner stool, said sill member defining an upper window frame and a lower chamber for a radiator, and an outer wall for said chamber supported by the unit and extending across the space between the outer sill and the floor.

27. In a building structure, a floor and a building wall having a window opening with its lower end substantially at the floor in combination with a metallic window unit located in said opening and including side walls, a sill member extending across the space between the side Walls and comprising an outer sill and an inner stool, said sill member defining an upper window frame and a lower chamber for a radiator, and an outer wall plate for said chamber supported by the unit and extending across the space between the outer portion of the outer sill and the floor.

28. In a metallic window structure, a unit comprising spaced outer side walls, a sill member extending across the space between the side walls, and defining an upper window frame, and a lower radiator receiving chamber, and an outer or rear Wall for the chamber including a plate that extends between the side walls and has its upper end associated with the sill member.

29. In a metallic window structure, a unit comprising spaced outer side walls, a bottom wall connecting the lower ends of the side walls, a sill member extending across the space between the side walls above their lower ends and defining an upper window frame and a lower radiator receiving chamber, and an outer or rear wall for the chamber including a plate that extends between the side walls and between the sill member and 5 bottom wall.

, 30. A window box frame having a sill and provided with a compartment, said compartment forming a unit with the frame, and a radiator mounted in said compartment, the compartment being below the sill and forming the supporting means for the window box on the floor of the room.

31. A window box frame, said frame having a window sill, and a compartment below the sill to receive a radiator, the compartment forming a unitary structure with the frame and providing a support for the frame on the floor of a room.

32. A window box frame formed of metal, said frame having a radiator chamber, the frame including a sill forming the top of the chamber, and a base member providing a bottom for said chamber, the sill, base member, the window box frame, and chamber formed in a unitary structure.

33. A window box frame formed of metal, said frame having a radiator chamber, the frame including a sill forming the top of the chamber, and a base member providing a bottom for said chamber, the front wall of the chamber being provided with spaced grille sections to permit the circulation of air through said chamber.

34. A window box frame formed of metal, said frame having a radiator chamber, the frame including a sill forming the top of the chamber, a base member providing a bottom for said chamber, and a radiator supported in the chamber between the sill and base member.

35. A window box frame formed of metal, said frame having a radiator chamber, the front wall of the chamber being open, and a housing in the 40 chamber for supporting the radiator.

36. A window box frame formed of metal, said frame having a radiator chamber, the front wall of the chamber being open, a housing in the chamber for enclosing the radiator, and a closure for the opening provided with spaced grille sections to permit the circulation of air through said chamber.

CLAUDE I. AUTEN. 

